Mercenaries, I Will Be King Chapter 1279 - 1102: The Kurd People's Little Ruse (Part 2)

Avanti's face showed a aningful smile: "The Aricans have provided the Kurds with a significant amount of weapons, money, and air support, arming them to the teeth. However, the blood on the ground ultimately must be shed by the Kurds themselves. So battles the Aricans find inconvenient to directly ddle in; so costs the politicians in Washington are unwilling to bear. At these tis, they need so 'grey area' forces to carry out those tasks that are inconvenient to appear in the Pentagon's briefings. But Abu You approaching you is quite a risky move. Is it a desperate attempt, or is so faction within the Kurds trying to use external forces to start afresh, or perhaps... trying to play a dangerous balancing ga?"

"A eting will make everything clear."

Song Heping's gaze was sharp: "In any case, this is a valuable opportunity to closely observe the true situation of the Kurds, assess the combat effectiveness of the 1515 Northern Corps, and even glimpse the true intentions of the Aricans. While there is risk, the rewards might exceed expectations."

His fingers gently tapped a few tis on the map.

"It's essential to have this eting."

At eleven o'clock that night, the moon was dark and the winds were high.

The desolate hilly area at the southeastern border of Elbil was swept by the howling night wind, rustling through the dry shrubs.

The abandoned village looked like a haunted place, with broken walls casting distorted shadows in the bleak moonlight.

Song Heping arrived punctually at the eting place—a relatively intact abandoned mud house.

Samir and several elite team mbers, ghost-like, were scattered around the high points and critical pathways nearby, carefully scanning the surroundings with night vision devices and sniper scopes, reporting through encrypted channels at any mont.

A few minutes later, two unmarked off-road vehicles silently drove into the village, stopping in front of the mud house.

From the cars erged five or six individuals, all wearing the typical combat uniform of the Kurdish "Freedom Fighter," ard with U.S.-made equipnt, moving deftly and remaining highly alert.

Leading them was a man not tall but exceptionally sturdy, his face etched with marks of frost and war, eyes sharp like an eagle's—Abu You himself.

The two parties t at the mud house entrance, and the atmosphere instantly felt a bit tense.

Abu You's n instinctively placed their hands near the trigger guards, despite Song Heping entering the house with only two companions. The invisible pressure from Samir's team outside made the Kurds cautious.

"Mr. Song, I've heard much about you."

Abu You was the first to speak, his voice hoarse and deep, filled with a heavy Kurdish accent.

To everyone's surprise, he spoke in Chinese, although awkwardly, but enough to convey his aning.

Clearly, he had done his howork before coming.

"Commander Abu You, pleased to et you."

Song Heping responded in Arabic, his tone flat, making a gesture to indicate 'please.'

Their subordinates remained outside, facing each other cautiously.

Inside, there was only a dim ergency lamp lighting a worn-out table and two chairs that looked ready to fall apart.

Without much small talk, Abu You imdiately went to the point.

"Mr. Song, I won't beat around the bush."

Abu You leaned forward, hands bracing the table, his gaze burning.

"The Mad Dogs of 1515 haven't gained any advantage towards Baghdad, and now they're pouring all their anger on us! Over the last week, they launched at least three regintal scale offensives around Kirkuk! Our losses are significant, and the frontlines keep retreating!"

He vividly described the battlefield's brutality with an agitated tone: "They have loads of suicide truck bombs, heavy artillery, and even so night vision equipnt and anti-tank missiles of unknown origin! Our soldiers are brave but lack in equipnt and numbers! Apart from bombing, the Aricans can't provide us enough support on the ground! At this rate, we might not be able to hold the oil field area!"

The underlying implication of his words was clear to Song Heping.

If the oil fields fall, the blow to the Kurds will be devastating—financial collapse, demoralization, and possibly triggering internal unrest.

"So..." Abu You stared at Song Heping, "We need help! Strong, effective help that can be deployed into battle imdiately! I've heard about your exploits, Mr. Song. I also know your supported Liberation Forces militia in the East has been holding off quite a number of 1515's forces. The last battle against three thousand with three hundred at Dry River Valley has already spread your fa throughout Illiguo..."

He paused, hands rubbing uneasily.

Perhaps recalling how the ard forces he once supported had opposed Song Heping, only to be wiped out by him, his expression turned slightly awkward.

But his emotions soon steadied.

"We need cooperation! We can provide you with funds, so U.S.-made equipnt information sharing, and even offer you a certain degree of... endorsent in international forums. As long as you can deploy troops to attack 1515's supply lines or flanks from the east or the south, relieving pressure on our northern forces!"

Beside him, Samir listened, breath quickening, eyes alight.

Funding!

Information on U.S.-made equipnt!

Even international endorsent!

This sounded like a pie falling from the sky!

If an alliance with the powerful Kurd Ard can be ford, both the strength and reputation of the Liberation Forces will see a huge boost!

However, Song Heping's reaction was like a splash of cold water.

He quietly listened to Abu You's impassioned speech, his face expressionless.